National flag carrier, Maldivian’s newest addition to its fleet, the Airbus A330, is scheduled to arrive in the Maldives later Monday.
Maldivian’s latest acquisition, the Airbus A330, is a safe and reliable aircraft due to its advanced engineering, the airline has said. The aircraft is designed to comply with the latest safety regulations and is equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features which help to ensure the safety of the aircraft and its passengers.
The acquisition of the Airbus A330 marks a historic milestone for both the airline and the country’s aviation industry. According to Maldivian, the new aircraft will accommodate 264 passengers across three cabin classes: economy, business and premium.
Speaking on a programme aired on PSM News, Maldivian’s Head of Flight Technical Mohamed Zaid Assad said the aircraft is equipped with two General Electric CF engines, making it capable of comfortably undertaking long haul flights.
Maldivian has announced plans to launch the wide-body aircraft to three destinations in China this month, including Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu. According to Zaid, the aircraft would be able to fly to these destinations with ease.
"Before we were using the A320 or A321 which are narrow body aircraft for long haul sectors. Now we are bringing in a wide-body. The wide-body has the capacity to travel about 13,000 or 12,000 kilometres. Europe is 8,000 or 9,000 kilometres away from the Maldives. So we can travel directly to major cities in Europe and China with ease,” he explained.
Zaid said the aircraft meets the highest global aviation standards of safety and security.
"This aircraft has the highest safety features in terms of global aviation standards. It incorporates modern technology and equipment,” he added.
The launch of wide-body aircraft operations will significantly expand Maldives’ tourism and trade, Maldivian has said.